SBA Provides remarks to the President's Export Council, Upcoming Trade Missions and More
SBA Office of International Trade
Our mission is to enhance the ability of small businesses to compete in the global marketplace.
LEAD STORY
CE Mark Required for About Half of U.S. Product Exports Sold in Europe
Has your distributor ever said to you that your product will sell in Europe and to send CE marked products? You were probably left asking, “What is a CE mark?” Then after you found out, you were wondering, “How do I get the CE mark?” Small businesses contact SBA’s International Trade Hotline with similar questions because CE marking is required for about half of U.S. product exports sold in Europe.
The CE mark indicates a product has met certain health, safety and in some cases environmental requirements. The CE mark is required for products to be sold in all 27 European Union countries, plus non-EU countries Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Turkey.
Bob Straetz serves as an expert in the International Trade Administration’s Office of Western and Northern Europe and helps answers questions for small businesses on CE marks. Bob explained that some products covered by regulated directives will need approval from a European notified body in order to get the CE mark. Other products can be self-certified, as long as the products meet the requirements of the applicable directive or regulation. The Commerce website contains information on the CE mark, testing, ordering standards, and more.
If you have questions about where to find information and what assistance you may be eligible for, you can find information on-demand at SBA Trade Tools.
For additional help, please contact SBA's Office of International Trade Hotline at 855-722-4877 or international@sba.gov for information and referrals to local business counseling resources.
Small Business Success Story
Puerto Rico-Based Small Businesses Connect with Medellin Colombia
On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce of Puerto Rico (DEDC), a State Trade and Expansion Program (STEP) grantee, hosted a workshop in partnership with the Made in Puerto Rico Association (Asociacion Hecho en Puerto Rico) focused on "Puerto Rico Trade to Medellín, Colombia."
The event was attended by over 50 entrepreneurs looking for trade opportunities to expand to Latin America; throughout the workshop, District Director, Josué E. Rivera , was part of the opening remarks, and one of SBA’s own Colombian-rooted Lenders Relations Specialist, Samuel Maldonado, provided valuable insights to the participants about access to capital programs, STEP, and the array of services offered by SBA resource partners.
Announcements/In the News
New Zealand Delegation visit to SBA
On June 20, 2024, OIT Trade Policy Team co-hosted a four-person delegation of Māori representatives from New Zealand with the SBA Office of Native American Affairs Associate Administrator Jackson Brossy at SBA headquarters.
OIT Director for Trade Policy and International Affairs Desi Jordanoff and Grace LaMendola were in attendance in addition to the delegation that included Traci Houpapa MNZM JP CFInstD , Pita Tipene, Tāne Waetford , and Emma McNeill .
The purpose of this meeting was to discuss best practices for engaging Indigenous SMEs, and the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA), of which the US became an observer in April 2024.
SBA OIT Meets With techUK
On June 11, 2024, SBA OIT Senior International Trade Policy Specialist Sarah L. Bonner joined USTR for a discussion on US-United Kingdom (UK) trade with a techUK delegation of UK businesses growing in the U.S.
Deputy Administrator Dilawar Syed Provided Remarks to the President’s Export Council
Deputy Administrator Syed joined the President's Export Council meeting on June 11, 2024. He provided remarks on initiatives that would support small business growth in trade.
SBA OIT meets with Kenyan Governor
On June 12, 2024, SBA OIT Senior International Trade Specialist Sarah L. Bonner joined Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to meet with Kenyan Governor Peter Anyang Nyong’o of Kisumu County to discuss future plans for US-Kenya trade including SBDC programs in both countries.
ICYMI
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Register for OIT Events
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum
DC SBDC Lead Center at the Howard University School of Business invites you to join SBA OIT at the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum 2024 on July 25th, from 10:30 AM – 1 pm ET.
Howard University’s DCSBDC is hosting African women and youth-owned SMEs to connect with U.S. small businesses through a robust panel discussion on how to connect, trade, and build business relationships. The panel will be followed by a networking marketplace aimed at promoting two-way trade and fostering meaningful relationships.
Space is limited, register here.
1st U.S.-Ecuador SME Dialogue Webinar
Business stakeholders are invited to join SBA, USTR, Commerce and the U.S. Embassy-Quito for the U.S.-Ecuador Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Dialogue webinar on July 30, 10 am -12:30 pm ET with Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment, and Fisheries.
U.S. stakeholders please RSVP by July 25 at international@sba.gov with your name, title, organization and city/state.
The webinar has no cost and is for U.S. and Ecuador small business stakeholders only. English and Spanish translation during the webinar provided.
Trade Missions
Mexico Outbound Mission to Monterrey & Mexico City
October 7-11, 2024,
Register by August 7, 2024, here.
Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) Trade Mission to the Caribbean region
November 17-18, 2024
Find the conference and mission information here.
Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia
December 8–9, 2024
Application deadline is September 26, 2024.
USDA Trade Mission to Morocco
December 2-6, 2024
For questions, please contact trademissions@usda.gov.
Questions? Contact OIT’s International Trade Hotline via email at international@sba.gov or call 855-722-4877.